National Republican., 1887-01-12

EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN: The Re-
PUBLICAN OF Dec. 80, In referring to the
"big guns sent by England over the Cam
ada Poetic road to defend her northern pos
sessions, concludes: at will soon become a
practical question whether 1t Is not more
economical TO annex Canada than to construct
q line OF fortihcations along the border"
In o few words you have given timely
warning and propounded serious question,
both OF which 1t is high time to consider,
Notwithstanding the assurance from n high
authority that we are secure from invasion.
There are many people who believe the rail-
road named TO be a standing menace To- the
peace and welfare and future prosperity OF this
country. They realize the real motive OF its
construction TO be mainly for military pur.
poses, with the United States as the objective
For what other conceivable purpose could such
an enterprise have been inaugurated at such
an enormous outlay and in such hastel Ger
tainly not to protect the wild possessions Of
tending civilization and the investment Of sur
plus capital, as Will be seen further on. Such
an enterprise undertaken in Europe, under
horn opposition. The construction OF siugle
fort has cauted war there. This road would
become more important factor In any hostile
movements against this country than whole
line of fortified places just across our northern
border. BY its aid England can, without warn
ing, and In few days, plant formidable
modern appliances of war-in our midst, as 1t
were, and we have no present means to check
mate such q movement. II is true the Northern
Pacific exists. but our civil war taught us the
advantage of position and OF taking the in
itiative.
The palpable incentive for constructing the
Canadian Pacific road is found in the waning
power of the ruling class in England. Many
Of that class believe that their day will termi-
nate with that of the immediate successor of
Victoria, unless something Is done to check
the constantly increasing influence OF the
United States In European affairs High OFF,
cials in England haye said but for this iniu.
little lesser authority is quoted as saying
that "if the Canadian Pacific road had been
completed twenty-five years ago there would
That the ruling class in England has no
honor to sacrifice when their interests are at
stake their whole history afiirms. The world
knows how. eagerly they sought our downfall
living well recall with what alacrity troops
were planted on our northern borders a. the
time OF the capture Of Mason and slidell, and
some of US remember that, after that affair
had been satisfactorily settled. how the com.
mander OF the troops In Canada came to this
city, inspected everything, and passed into
the line of the enemy without deignng to ask
Jermission to do so from the proper authority;
how he subsequently returned to England and
in the "Thunderer" said in effect that the re-
bellion was an assured success, the Union army
mob and oilicered mainly by incompetent
toeIs, while that Of the enemy was well dis
ciplined and ofiicered by educated gentle,
men," and much more. OF the same sort. Il
have oflen wondered how many confederate
bonds that general held, and how he obtained
them.) That article voiced the real sentiment
feeling any less hostile to-day?
"But," soys some one, this road Is intended
for commercial purposes and TO open vast
the probabilities Of this, and In this connection
little history will be interesting.
First The Hudson Bay Company was is,S al
of land about their trading posts, aud one
twentieth Of all the fertile land in the country;
Next. 50 100000 was expended In surveys, and
100000 600 more on the only portions Of the line
ever likely to pay running expenses; 1 g, from
Ottawa TO Winnipeg at one end, and from
KamlOOps to Fort Moody at the other end OF
the line. This brings matters to 1881, when
syndicate was given all these improvements,
Se5.0CO,000 and %. 900 900 acres of land, every.
thing exempted from taxation and allowed to
fix tolls, own aud control the whole line for
ever Except when wanted for military pur-
posesl, on The sole condition OF completing the
road is well known to be a large sized failure,
Notwithstanding the extraordinary induce
ments offered by both land and money. OF
about 10000 subjects of England induced to
break for "the states" withina year. and one of
these subjects" now in this city, said that
wGod Leave as soOn SSSS WSSS fSsd Sas
that inhospiable region divides the year into
'three months helr-the summer season =
"and nine months Of ice snow. mud, or water; a,
the SOIL" II Is so cold at times that mercury
freezes. Certainly no railroad through such a
country can ever be made to pay interest from
traffic-especially the $50 of the lao miles
between Winnipeg and Fort Moody, where
most OF the land for sale or to be given away Is
located. A road to the north pole would have
n better chance for success, for the patronage
ofan increasing army of delinquents from "the
states could be relied on. Doubtless the pur-
chase of Alaska caused the initiative step of
the present military preparation to the north Of
us. John Bull dreamed that we were about to
pIe-empt all the land between the lsthmus of
Darien and the north pole; at least, we Intended
to subjugate Canada, Let our esteemed an
ccsor keep cool. In the fullness of time the
Canadas will drop upon us like a ripe "chest-
nut" and without an effort on our part. 1t Ia
the order of nature, as 1t were.
In the great struggle for supremacy now go.
irg on in The world between two antagonist sys'
TENS of government, the United State Is the
common enemy, and must rely upon herself
mainly for final success This can be accom-
plished, and without b0odshed on our part
IL not caught mapping, for truly In this ca'e
''an ounce of prevention is better than a
pound OF cure" nor should we trust too much
10 discomfort among the subjects of England,
for, as we have seen, the Irish have ever been
loyal 10 the throne In case of war.
Truly the' 'practicai' answer is the present
consideration of the question propounded
by the REPUBLICAN,, and quoted at the COM
meneement of this article, which means, when
freely rendered, we must keep our iilnts
picked and powder dry all the time.